Summary

In the essay, "What you need to know about love," Backman starts to silence the jokes and pivots to a more emotional tone. He starts to speak about his wife, for whom he has nothing but high praise and love. In this essay about love, he admits that he does not know much about it, but says that whatever exists between him and his wife is what his son should search for. But, as great as their love is, he says, "No one has ever said that we were destined for each other" (168). One of the few tangible pieces of advice he gives his son is a classic cliché, saying, "You need to know yourself before you can know anyone else" (168).

One...